Stocking.



E. G. PARSONS.

STOCKING.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 15, 1911. 1,044,567. Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

.Z'nvento r W fy/fit' uflw- ZWA 4 EMMA G. PARSONS, OF SOMEBVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

s'rocxlne.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented N V. 19, 1912.

Application filed December 15, 1911. Serial No. 668,058.

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownt-hat I, EMMA 0. Parsons, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stockings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hosiery, and has for its main purpose to furnish anarticle of this nature having capacity for at least double the amount of wear of an ordinary stocking of the same quality, and of which the cost of manufacture and the cost to the user are not materially greater than the corresponding costs of an ordinary stocking of the same grade and quality. I accomplish this object by making the stocking with two foot portions, each having its own toe and heel, and both united to a single leg portion, preferably at opposite ends thereof. The two foot portions referred to may be so made as to point either in the same direction or in different directions from the leg portion, to meet different con ditions of use and to suit the taste of the user. r

In the accompanying drawings wherein l have illustrated stockings embodying my invention, Figure 1 shows the form in which the two foot portions extend in opposite directions. Fig. 2 shows the form in which .the two foot portions extend in the same direction from the leg portion. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2', showing the admission opening through one of,

Fig. t is abottom view in which the'admission represents the the foot portions. of the foot portion opening is formed. Fig.5 stocking in use.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The stocking consists of a tube"'oi'"leg" I portion a and two foot portions 7) and c integrally united with the leg portion and disposed at opposite ends thereof. Each of these stocking feet has its own toe (Z. and heel e. At one end of the article thus made there is leftan opening 1 through which the foot and leg of the wearer may be inserted. As here shown this opening 18 formed in the bottom of the foot portion 0, the other foot portion 5 beingcomplete and without openings off-any sort. The edges 9 of the opening 1 are finished in such a way that they will not ravel and that they may be caught together with sutiicient security when the portion 0 is worn The exact location of the opening f is not material, provided only that it is near one end ofthe article and so formed that the wearers foot may be easily inserted.

In first using the stocking the latter is applied in such a way that the wearers foot occupies the foot portion 12, the other foot portion 0 being disposed in any manner most convenient, either by being extended along the upper part of the leg, orby being turned in, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, the latter being the preferred way. When the unoccupied foot partis thus the ordinary stocking, the extra thickness formed by theturned in portion being unnoticeable, and being in anyevent concealed by the outer clothing ofthe wearer. At the sameitime this turned in portion performs a useful function in thickening and strengtheningthat part of the stocking to which the usual hose supporters are attached, such turned in portion takin the place of the usual band of extra thicl ness, known as a welt, or the band of bing usually united to hosiery at the open end to take the pull ofthe, supporter.

When the-foot portion 6 becomes worn out, it may be cut off slit open, and the opening f of the portion c -is closed. The, stocking may then be re,- versed and worn with the other end up,'tlie foot. If the opening f is formed in, the bot.-

preferred location. closed rapidly, easily and securely by even the most unskillful needle worker by a few stitches. it is in such a position that it is concealed when this foot portion is occupied by the foot of the'wearer, and is at the same time not subjected to strains and severe wear, so that there is no tendency for it to open and for the connecting stitches to pull out or break.

When the foot portions are so made as to project to opposlte sides, as indicated in Fig. 1, the reversal of the stocking to substitute one foot portion for the other upon the foot of the wearer also causes the leg portion to be reversed, bringing that portion which was formerly at the front of the leg to the rear. In this way such parts of the leg as may have become worn in front are replaced by unworn portions and are more on the foot.

turned in the article has the appearance of 4 and thrown away,- or

foot. portion cjthen receiving the wearers,

tom or sole of this foot portion, which isthe it is capable of being ribbed web or less concealed. When two foot portions extend in the same direction, as indicated in Fig. 2, the reversal of the stocking does not reverse the leg otherwise than by substituting oneend for the other, and bringing the portion which was previously over the knee to a point at or near the ankle. In either case a comparatively unworn and uninjured part of the leg tube is substituted for the part which was previously over the knee of the wearer and was therefore the part most subjected to wear. Each of these arrangements will have its own uses and be preferred by some classes of purchasers, consequently I desire to include them both within the scope of the appended claims.

It will be readily ap reciated that owing to the complete concea ent of the second foot, there is nothing to detract from the appearance of the stocking when being worn, and that the invention may be applied to a dress stocking equally as well as to those of 'more common wear. Also that the stocking may be worn with low shoes or pumps.

a The essential principles of the invention may be embodied "in all styles and grades of stockings, including half hose. It is also particularly applicable to childrens hosiery, which is subject to severe wear. When adapted for the latter class of users it is feasible to make the leg tube'of such length that the heel portion of the foot 0 lies over the knee cap of the wearer. The fullness'of this heel portion provides a pocket for the knee, allowing the wearers leg to bend without pulling and stretching the stocking,

' and therefore without making that portion which overlies the knee subject to such severe and rapid wear as in the case of the ordinary construction of stocking.

An article of hoisery embodying the ent invention can be made with very eater expense than the ordinary stocking aving a single foot, and can be sold at only advance over the price of such stockheel and toe iiiii ings of the same quality. At the same time they provide capacity for at least double the amount of. wear and double the life of the ordinary stocking. It is well known that when the foot portion of an ordinary stocking is worn out beyond repair, the leg portion is usually intact and capable of much more wear. My invention provides a means for utilizing the capacity for Wear left in the legportion after the first foot has be: come wornout, by providing a reserve foot capable of being quickly made ready for use when the first foot is discarded.

I claim,.

1. As a new article of manufacture, a stocking consisting of a single leg portion and two foot portions at respectively opposites ends of the leg portion, each foot. portion having both heel and toe parts.

2. A stocking consisting of a leg portion, a complete foot portion. at one end, and a foot portion at the other end having 'an opening adapted to receive the foot and leg of the wearer, each foot portion having both parts.

3. A stocking consisting of a leg portion, two toe portions, and two heel portions, there being one toe and one heel united to form a footportion at each end of the leg portion an opening being provided for the insertion of the foot of the wearer.

4. A stocking consisting of a leg and a foot portion at one end of the leg, said stocking having at the opposite end of the leg and on the forward side thereof a fullness adapted to receive the knee of the wearer and havin an extension on the opposite side, said llness or knee part and said extension constituting the heel and toe of a reserve foot ortion.

In testimony w ereof I have afiixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

EMMA C. PARSONS.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK A. GREENE, WALTER PARSONS. 

